Maharashtra Home Minister Deshmukh makes u-turn on probe into celebrities' tweets, says this

After the Delhi violence, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has taken a 'U-turn' in the controversy with respect to tweets by celebrities like Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar. Deshmukh on Monday clarified that the state government was probing the BJP IT cell and that his words had been misinterpreted earlier. "Lata Mangeshkar is like God to us, Sachin is held in high regard by the whole country, the inquiry was never against them, it was against the BJP IT cell," he said.

"A preliminary investigation by MH Police has revealed that BJP's IT cell chief and 12 other influencers are involved in the tweet case and police are taking action accordingly," the Maharashtra home minister tweeted.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government on February 8 had ordered a probe to know if celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, singer Lata Mangeshkar, cricketer Virat Kohli and others tweeted under pressure by the Centre in support of farm laws.

Maharashtra Pradesh Committee Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant held a virtual meeting with Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday, 8 February, asking for a probe into the tweets posted by Indian celebrities in response to the global criticism of the farmers' protest.

Sachin Sawant in a tweet said, "Demanded investigation of BJP connection into the tweets of celebrities & security to be provided to our national heroes if needed & find out whether these celebrities were arm-twisted by BJP. @AnilDeshmukhNCP Ji ordered investigation by Intelligence unit."

Several celebrities including Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar tweeted with #IndiaAgainstPropaganda and #IndiaTogether, after American pop singer Rihanna and Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg posted tweets in support of the farmers' protests.

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had assured Congress' Sachin Sawant that the state Intelligence Department will conduct an investigation and probe whether Sachin, Lata Mangeshkar and other famous celebrities were pressured to tweet in support of the Centre.

Source : DNA India